FIVE QUICK THOUGHTS
-Were those really the same Ottawa Senators that outshot Detroit 16-2 in the first period of their last meeting back on November 4th? Really was a night and day difference. After being embarrassed the last time the teams met you know Mike Babcock would have his guys ready to play. Ottawa got that early 5 on 3 goal but the Red Wings found another gear that the Senators just couldn’t match.
-Those first 40 minutes were some of the worst hockey the Sens have played all season. Defence was bobbling the puck and killing any kind of breakout play before it started. At the same time, forwards looked lost in all three zones. Connecting on one pass was difficult let alone two or three to put any kind of attack together. The end result was a constant fire drill in their own end and almost zero possession in the other end of the rink. The Senators have been outplayed on many occasions this season but this was on another level. Take that game tape of the first two periods, launch it into space, and attach it to a comet.
-Feet finally started moving in the third. As much as we can get down on this team for a dreadful forty minutes, full credit to them for not quitting and finding a way to make a game of it. The Red Wings certainly let off the gas a little bit but the Senators certainly did some better things in that final twenty. A glove save at the buzzer by Jimmy Howard kept the Sens from earning one of the most unlikely points of their season.
-If your thought after a game like that is this team needs to make drastic changes, don’t count on it. They could make a small trade or put someone on waivers to clear a roster spot for Methot in the near future but other than that, this team isn’t looking to make a big move right now. There are other changes that would be considered before a roster overhaul. Important to remember this is one of the youngest teams in the league that is dead last in the league in payroll.
-Interested to see what Paul MacLean does with the lineup in a back to back situation against a tough St. Louis team. Would not be surprised to see all three of the healthy scratches dress tonight against the Blues. Assuming the game happens, of course.
